The Waterways Journal
5 January 2009
By David Murray
Brownsville Marine Products (BMP), located at Mile 57.5 on the Monongahela Hiker, has a history of building marine vessels dating back to 1939. Every one in the local community remembers it as being the "Hillman Barge" company. Hillman Barge, later operated as HBC by Trinity Marine, closed its doors in 1995.
Deck barge under construction at Brownsville Marine.
But its tradition has been reborn.
Joseph Hose and Brian Mueller bought the assets of' the one-time Hillman Barge in 2005. The new. company. operating as Brownsville Marine Products. launched its first barge on April 26. 2006.
Since then, BMP has rolled out 187 hopper barges. Its 187th rolled out the week before the company's director of sales and marketing. Tim Delaney, spoke with The Waterways Journal.
The year of 2008 has been a year of disersification for the growing shipyard. In March 2008, BMP opened a second production line for specialty vessels, including 10,000-barrel tank barges and boat hulls. In June the first deck barge was launched. the first of 4deck barges for Heartland Barge Management LLC. As of this year, the company also offers marine repairs amd steel fabricating.
In April, Brownsville Marine was one of 19 companies awarded a Small Shipyard Grant under a new program administered by the Maritime Administration. The $532,226 grant helped the company buy hydraulic buggies, winches, a mobile crane, a and an overhead crane that helped it expand its barge production line.
Does the economy give Delaney any pause?
."Our current book takes us into the first quarter of 2009. said Delaney. "Sure, the economy will affect us some. We're not immune. But the need is still there. Older barges are going away."
Delaney sees continued opportunity on the rivers, and thinks the company is well positioned for the long haul.
"BMP has been, steadily adding workers.. said Delaney. Today the company employs over 200 workers.
This picture of the BMP assembly building appeared in a 1 December 2008 ad in The Waterways Journal.